The Olympic torch relay for the Beijing Games has been going on across the Chinese mainland since May 4.

The day was also China's Youth's Day.

The China Youth Daily carried a commentary saying that the country's younger generation has developed more feelings toward their motherland through the torch relay.

As the Beijing Olympic torch was relayed in overseas countries in the past one month, it has experienced both joyous greetings and violent disturbances. But people can always find groups of Chinese youths on the streets in different countries supporting the torch relay and defending their national pride.

China's younger generation, especially those born after the year 1980, has sometimes been accused of being self-centered and lacking the sense of responsibility. But the paper says, their love for the country is just not easily detected during normal times.

The paper says when the younger people found their country subjected to external insults or attacks, they became tougher and stronger than expected. It cites Jin Jin, the Paralympics athlete who protected the Olympic torch in Paris, as an example. She was also born after 1980.

The paper says their firm support for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay has fully demonstrated their sense of responsibility and their love for the country.

Meanwhile, the paper argues young people have not only demonstrated their patriotism for their country, many of them have also learned to work hard, so they can make due contributions to boost the country's development.